Pitch is considered safe for play when Indians get hit by South African pacers. But the umpires considered the pitch unsafe when a South African gets paid back in the same coin.

In case the pitch is considered not fit for play then BCCI should be declared the winners. There is no way the South Africans are going to chase this total, so they will try to hide behind the unsafe pitch excuse.

Yes, the pitch is a tricky one to bat on but the particular delivery that hit Elgar on the grill was just a short ball that rose to a height more than Elgar expected. It was more due to misjudgment by him, rather than anything to do with the pitch.

Immediately the umpires got all worked up, began discussing with each other - and decided it was enough for now.

Sorry, but if Elgar doesn't have the technique to play the short ball, don't blame the pitch. It's the same pitch on which BCCI batted all day, batsmen getting hit numerous times by SA quicks, but batting gamely on.

Murali Vijay batted 127 deliveries, got hit many times. Now if you abandon the game, it's like a slap on his face. Not just Vijay, even Kohli got hit.

BCCI has shown character in this Test, with bat and ball. They could easily have thrown the towel in, considering it's a lost series anyway.

The game should just go on - and I think it will. Today's response was a bit of an overreaction by the umpires, I think.

But then, after the Phil Hughes incident, umpires are probably a bit on the edge anyway when they see a batsman get hit on the grill.

Going South wrote:the day belonged to BCCI. hope they continue it towards a win.

Yes, the day certainly belonged to BCCI.They were 140-odd for 6, but Rahane, Bhuvi, Shami didn't just hand it over to SA.Rahane played some wonderfully pleasing shots - I have a problem with him for limited-overs, but am happy to see him in Tests.Bhuvi showed once again that he takes his batting seriously - very sensible batting from him.Shami threw his bat at everything - and it worked. :-)Even Ishant did the same.

All in all, a very positive attitude by BCCI - they totally deserve to be having the edge right now. I'd still be conservative and say 65-35 BCCI.SA bowled poorly after they picked up Pandya.Rabada bowled too short, Morkel too.Philander looked dangerous, but batsmen managed to negotiate him.Ngidi was a bit under-bowled.Phehlukwayo was not even tried.

Let's just hope the pitch doesn't suddenly become a batting pitch tomorrow.

I must say that I feel quite proud to realise that BCCI today are in a situation where they can fight fire with fire when it comes to bowling fast. The fact that South Africans are struggling against Indian pacers' pace is a proud feeling for long time BCCI supporters like me. If only we had such pacers back in 1970s. Those were the days when English bowlers like Old, Hendricks, Lever etc used to terrorise Indian batsmen and Indians did not have the firepower to respond against English batsmen who would make merry against Indian spinners. The same English batsmen would then be starkly exposed by Thomson and Lillee against Australia.

Even more heartening is the fact that BCCI under-19 pacers like Mavi and Nagarkoti are even faster than the senior BCCI pacers. So there is a good supply of impressive pacers for BCCI in future as well.

Carlos@RealCarlito_32·47sSA cannot afford to run scared here...they have to bat...If it's abandoned then the Wanderers cannot host an international game for a year. So will have to reschedule the Aus test. #SAvIND

I blame the commentators also to some extent.They've been talking non-stop about how dangerous this pitch is, how unsuitable it is for cricket, and so on.Ok, so it's not a routine pitch, but if you keep on and on about the same thing, you create doubt in everyone's mind - including the umpires.

BCCI batted for a full day's cricket, right? Nothing against SA, but I think it's time for them to show their skills now.If they can, fine.If they can't, 2-1.

raja wrote:So many near-misses, and oohs and aahs this morning - but bottom line, only the one wicket has fallen today.Rabada, as night-watchman, seems to be a pretty decent bat - doesn't throw his bat at everything (Hardik, you listening?)

Memories of Wasim Bari at Lahore, 1978.India vs Pak.He came in as night-watchman, with 1 wicket down.The next morning he tortured the Indian bowlers - scored 85.

Only a few months earlier,at Perth, Tony Mann had come in as night-watchman (Aus vs India 1977-78) and got a hundred - the first night-watchman to get a hundred in Tests. It was a crucial match-winning knock.

What's it with BCCI and night-watchmen?

No sir,Tony Mann (1977) was not first Night-watchman to get a century in test, Pakistan's Nasim-ul-Ghani début in WI in 1958 at the age of 16, 1962 he scored century at Lords as Night-watchman, matter of fact that was first ever century by Pakistani in England.

Kirmani too, hits century but 2 years later after Mann did, SMG out late in the day and kirmani sends way too early.he scored century next day ( his first) and India win test

It appears that in addition to being chokers, South Africans are turning out to be hypocrites as well. They dished out short stuff repeatedly even at the Indian tailenders, and now are complaining about a pitch that they themselves wanted, just because their opener cannot face the same short stuff.

Boycs wrote:I think kohli amla Root and Smith would be the batsman I’d most enjoy settling down to watch at the moment. All very skilled but also positive and always scoring or just very graceful in the case of amla.

Not actually seen Williamson recently enough to picture how easy he is on the eyes.

Bell in full flow was something to watch but he’s gone now.

Williamson is very easy on the eye. Plays very late and very classicly. Aesthetically he's the equal of anyone in the game at present. Tom Latham strokeplay is pretty, but its just so rare he makes runs. Taylor looks magnificent and graceful on the off side, and agricultural on the on side.

Sanga was my favourite of recent times. I remember Boult swinging through SL, and Sanga just elegantly playing the swing late for big runs as his team fell to rabble around him.

Different kettle of fish, but Uthappa's strokeplay from India is very easy on the eye. And the wicket keeper bat that raja really dislikes, Dinesh Karthik I believe is his nane , he is so fluid and balanced in his unorthodox stroke play, it has to be seen. I find it captivating viewing.

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"Your inclination to assume and contradict is typical of Narcissism which is nothing about being pretty like the Narcissus fable."

Was reluctant to give much interest to this Test because the series was already lost, but the criticism of the pitch has piqued my curiosity. Just a shame that even if India do manage a win, it is a dead rubber.

From cricbuzz:"Welcome back for the final session! Technically, this is a dead rubber but you wouldn't realize that from the intensity both sides have shown in this match. South Africa have approached this tricky chase superbly and just when it seemed like it was one-way traffic, India sprang back to life with those twin strikes. Fasten your seat belts folks, as this is going to be a roller-coaster ride. Meanwhile, there is an update as Parthiv Patel has suspectedly broken his finger and according to the new rules, you can have a substitute for the keeper. Dinesh Karthik will don the gloves. All set for live action to start"

This win will give BCCI great self belief that they can compete and win in overseas conditions. Hopefully they will be better prepared for their net tour in England and they will not committ the same mistakes, viz keeping Rahane and Bhuvneshwar Kumar our of the playing XI. This series should serve as a great learning experience cum turning point of Indian cricket as far as playing away test series is concerned.

What a match ! That was some.series, it was like the India Aus series,.moving back and forth.Due to a combination of selection blunders, bad batting and 7 dropped catches, India lost the series 2-1. It was much closer than the scores suggest.

This third test win helped BCCI protect their number one test ranking. Before the series, India were on 124 and South Africa were second on 111. A 3-0 whitewash would have leveled the two teams on 118 each with India marginally ahead on decimal points.

This 2-1 result ensures that India only lose three rating points (and not 6) while South Africa only gain four rating points (and not 7). So India now on 121 rating points will keep ahead of South Africa , now on 115 rating points. Even if South Africa now whitewash Australia in their next test series, they cannot move ahead of India at the ICC test ranking table. So this one test win for India did a lot to their confidence and also protected their top ranking in ICC test ranking table.